Linda Apsey, the retired CEO of Novi-based ITC Holdings, held a variety of positions during a 32-year career, including 23 years at ITC.
She was the CEO since 2016. She held the dual role of president/CEO, she was an executive vice president, chief business officer and was president of ITC Michigan.
Since her retirement March 22, Apsey has added another prestigious honor: She has been selected for enshrinement in the Michigan Business Women Hall of Fame, which honors women whose careers have reached exceptional levels of success and have elevated and encouraged women in the workplace..
Apsey is being honored alongside three other women:
- Kimberly Montague, CEO of Albert Kahn Industries, which designs and engineers innovative facilities.
- Patricia Sellers, Director, Business Development for GM Defense.
- Lori Walker, Vice President, Inclusion Operations Management for Comerica Bank.
The new Hall of Famers will be honored at the 30th Annual Women Thrive Conference, which helps MichBusiness, along with its sister brands Corp! Magazine, the Best and Brightest programs, and the National Association for Business Resources, accomplish its one mission – to ignite greatness in companies and their people.
The conference will also honor women in two other key categories: Women in Leadership and Shooting Stars.
Jennifer Kluge, president and CEO of the NABR, noted the progress women in business have made.
“We have been coming together as a community to recognize influential women in leadership for three decades,” Kluge said. “We have seen a lot in those years.”
Women in Leadership
Six women have also been recognized as “Women in Leadership,” which recognizes women who are change-makers and thought leaders in the workplace. Among the honorees were:
- Karen Akouri, the founder and CEO of Drench, a line of clean, all-natural shelf stable dressings and marinades.
- Sandy Fester, vice president for Michigan business for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
- Dr. Sonia Hassan, associate vice president and founder of Wayne State University’s Office of Women’s Health.
- Tina Kozak, CEO of Franco, a Detroit communications firm.
- Portia Powell, CEO at One Detroit Credit Union.
- Stephanie Trotter, vice president of finance and chief financial officer at The Henry Ford.
Shooting Stars
The five women recognized as Shooting Stars, defined as “young women on the move” in business. included:
- Amy Yousif Joa, associate director at the MSU Broad College of Business.
- Candace Kitchen, human resources and customer service. Total Door Systems.
- Courtney Smith, founder and CEO of the Detroit Phoenix Center.
- Aimee Stein, benefits and wellness manager for Sasche Construction.
- Genna Young, senior manager for Chevrolet communications at General Motors.
The Women Thrive Conference takes place Thursday, May 21, at the MGM Grand in Detroit.
